Blogging virgin no more!

Inspired by my friend/coworker Natalie (http://natbarb.blogspot.com/), I am venturing into the blogging world. Pretty easy to decide on content, as there are few things I am continually passionate about. #1 on the list: FITNESS. I'm sure it comes from having the most athletic father known to mankind, a marathoner mother, and growing up in various sports starting at age 4, but my passion for fitness and athletics continues to drive me everyday (and get me up at 6am...).

My biggest fear graduating from Harvard was transitioning to the corporate lifestyle. How does one go from 4 hours of track a day training for the heptathlon to 10 hours of sitting a day? I mean it is not HARD to sit 10 hours a day, but ass expansion is inevitable...and track ass is not exactly small to begin with. Images of a huge ass, thunder thighs, beer belly, and flabby arms infiltrated my brain. I was terrified.

The journey into the corporate world began well, my sister's wedding was 2 short months after I started my job, so Operation: Look Fit was in full effect. Working out 2 hrs a day and eating only tofu really did the trick. However, sustainability was questionable. Into the dreary winter Boston went, and on crept the feared pounds. Somehow, happy hour and bar food became a nightly habit. The workouts continued but no level of intensity can combat that sort of lifestyle. WHAT WAS HAPPENING?!? Well, not being able to fit into work pants is what was happening. It was an entire winter of skirts and dresses.

Over a year later, I am finally understanding how to get this work/fitness balance working for me. It is hard work, a lot of discipline, and makes you look like a total weirdo at times. Packing breakfast, lunch and snacks for work everyday can be irritating and time consuming, but getting up for my 6am workout each morning and seeing all my muscle definition return (and look better than ever) is totally worth it. I read an article from my the new issue of my favorite magazine, Oxygen, last night, and it had a great takeaway: 'Anything that doesn't contibute to your health, detracts from it. There are no neutral decisions.' Challenge yourself to make every decision to benefit your health. You have one body, and one life. Kick ass.

Workout of the day: 60 minute spin class, focused on tempo intervals and short sprints. There was not a single part of my body that wasn't dripping sweat, LOVE IT. Sweating is cleasing and therapeutic. Spinning with others is a nice alternative to my daily lifting sessions...with myself.